Piano.



No. 818,496. PATENTED APR. 24, 1906. J. A. WESER.

PIANO APPLICATION FILED 001e, 1905.

I Attest Inventor:

by I W W Attys UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. April 24, 1906.

Application filed October 6,1905. Serlal No. 281,572-

reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof.

In automatic pianos so much room is occupied by the automatic mechanism within the case above the keyboard as to interfere with the movement of the hinged backfall unless the case is enlarged on this account.

It is the object of this invention to provide a folding backfall which will fold automatically as the keyboard-cover is raised, so that it will not strike any part of the automatic mechanism, although the case is of the ordinary depth.

The invention is illustrated in a convenient and practical embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawing, which is a view in vertical section of so much of a piano as is necessary to enable the application of the invention to be understood.

The case a and the frame I) of the piano may be of any usual or preferred construction. Just above the piano -keys (not shown) is secured a strip 0, to which the keyboard-cover d is hinged, as usual, such cover having hinged to it an extension 6. The backfall comprises a part f, which is fixed ri idly to the keyboard-cover d, and a part 9, .w ich is hinged, as at h, to the part f, a spring 11 being secured to the parts f and g on the inner sides thereof for the purpose of maintaining the parts f and g normally in the same plane, as shown by full lines, while permitting the part 9 to fold with respect to the part f, as shown by dotted lines, and acting to return the part to its normal relation when permitted.

To the case of the piano at one end or at each end, if preferred, is secured a pin or projection 7c, with which the part 9 of the backfall makes contact when the keyboard-cover d is turned upon its hinge to uncover the piano-keys and is thereby caused to swing upon its own hinge h with relation to the part f of the backfall and to assume the position indicated by dotted lines. The contacting surface of the part 9 is provided with a notch Z for cooperation with the pin of projection 7c, so that when the keyboard-cover and the backfall are turned back into the position indicated by dotted lines the notch Z shall be engaged by the pin 7c and the parts thereby held from accidental disengagement, some slight pull being required to disengage the notch from the pin when the piano is to be closed. The spring'i serves to maintain the engagement, and its tension must be overcome before disengagement is effected. As will be understood, the extension 0 is folded back upon the keyboard-cover (Z and is carried with it into the piano-case, as indicated by dotted lines.

It will be observed that the folding of the backfall permits it to be turned back within the piano-case without striking the automatic mechanism or any other part that may be behind it and without requiring the case to be made of unusual depth.

It will be understood that the terms keyboard-cover, "extension, and backfall are employed herein for the sake of clearness in description, although in the art the term fallboard is generally understood to include the front and the back fall.

I claim as my invention 1. A piano having a backfall composed of two longitudinal parts, one of which, is mov able with respect to the other.

2. A piano having a backfall composed of two longitudinal parts, one of which is hinged upon the other, and a spring to maintain such parts in normal relation and to permit relative movement.

3. A piano having a hinged backfall composed of two longitudinal parts, one of which is hinged upon the other, a spring to maintain such parts in normal relation and to permit relative movement, and a stop to coop- V erate with the movable parts.

4. A piano having a backfall composed of two longitudinal parts, one of which is hinged upon the other, said part having a notch, a spring to maintain such parts in normal relation and to permit relative movement, and a stop to cooperate with the movable parts and engage said notch.

5. Apiano having a keyboard-cover hinged to its support, a backfall composed of two longitudinal parts hinged together, one of said parts being fixed to the cover, and means cooperating with the hinged parts of the backfall to cause it to fold as the cover is swung upon its hinge.

o. A piano having a keyboard-cover hinged to its support, a backfall composed of two longitudinal parts hinged together, one of said parts being fived to the cover, a spring secured to said parts to maintain them in normal relation, and a stop fixed in the path of the movable part to cooperate therewith.

7 A piano having a keyboard-cover, a backfall composed of two longitudinal parts hinged together and means whereby the backfall is folded as the keyboard-cover is raised.

8. A piano having a keyboard-cover, a backfall composed of two longitudinal parts hinged together, and means whereby the backfall is restored to normal position as the keyboard-cover is closed.

9. A piano having a keyboardcover, a backfall composed of two longitudinal parts hinged together, means whereby the backfall is folded as the keyboard-cover is raised,

and means whereby the backfall is restored to normal position as the keyboard-cover is closed.

10. A piano having a keyboard e cover hinged to its support, a backfall composed of two longitudinal parts hinged together, one of said parts being fixed to the cover and the other part having a notch in its rear face, a spring to maintain said parts in normal relation, and a stop fixed in the path of the movable part to cooperate therewith, and engage said notch.

This specification signed and witnessed this 5th day of October, 1905.

JOHN A. WESER.

In presence of W. B. GREELEY, M. A. BRAYLEY. 

